Cancer incidences at Vic CFA site examined

Incidences of cancer among trainers and instructors at Victoria's Fiskville firefighter training facility will be investigated by Monash University.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB) halted training at the site mid-year following reports toxic waste had been used in hot-fire training exercises and hundreds of firefighters had potentially been exposed to dangerous chemicals dating back to the 1970s.

The Country Fire Authority (CFA) announced on Friday one of Australia's foremost cancer research institutions will look into incidences of cancer and causes of death among Fiskville trainers and instructors.

The study, by the Monash School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, will be overseen by Professor John McNeil and is expected to be completed by late 2014.

The study was a key recommendation of a report by Professor Rob Joy which looked into training practices at the site between 1971-1999.

CFA chief Mick Bourke said the Monash study would examine any links between incidences of cancer and chemicals used at Fiskville during that period.

It will focus on about 250 people considered by Prof Joy to be in the moderate and high risk category of chemical exposure.

Prof Joy's study found there was a "late awakening" by the CFA board and senior management to health and safety issues at the site over several decades, but that most people who visited, lived or trained at Fiskville between 1971-1999 were in the low or negligible risk category of exposure to chemicals.

Mr Bourke said almost all people in the "high" category had been contacted and a significant number of people in the "medium" category had been identified, with initial contact made.

Training at Fiskville resumed in October after it was declared safe by the CFA.